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Three months.
Three months was all it took for Yu to feel like he was at the end of his rope in Tokyo. The idea of feeling like a stranger in his own home wasn't exactly foreign to him, but it returned to him tenfold after feeling the actual love of other people for a year.
He wanted to go back. Oh god how he wanted to go back, but his parents made it abundantly clear that no son of theirs is graduating from a high-school like Yasogami in a nothing town like Inaba. Just imagine how that would look on his college applications, after all. No, their son was going to graduate from one of the finest schools in Tokyo. That's what's absolutely best for his future, not to mention the added bonus of how well it reflects on them.
They haven't stopped texting. He can't believe they haven't stopped texting. He stopped responding the day he got back. Asking them to put in the effort for him was asinine. They have their own lives now. Wasting any of it on him would be ridiculous.
He's already helped everyone he could. They can move on now with him staying a single blip in their existence. That's the way it's meant to be. That's all he's for. To help people become the best version of themselves and be forgotten afterwards.
Nanako doesn't need him anymore. Dojima had changed. He'll be there for her now, and even when he's not his former friends will still be there to help. They're far better than he could ever be.
Chie has Yukiko now. They'll be happy together. Even if they miss him now, they'll find solace in each other. Kanji has Naoto. He's so glad Kanji finally worked up the courage to confess to her. He knows they'll keep each other happy and unafraid to be their true selves. Yosuke hasn't gotten with anyone, but at least he has Teddie. A new brother. A new partner.
Rise...
Well, Rise will be fine. She's a strong girl. Yu knows that better than anyone. She'll find happiness in someone else. A better, more fulfilling happiness than she'd ever get with someone like him. One day he hopes she'll see that.
It had only taken two weeks for his parents to leave again. 'An opportunity in Europe they couldn't pass up' they'd said. He didn't even get the chance to request going back to Inaba before they shot that idea down. 'You're old enough to take care of the house yourself, Yu-kun.'
At this point he almost wishes they'd never sent him to Inaba in the first place. Forming genuine bonds with others was all well and good, but being ripped away from them felt way worse than any wound he'd received in the TV world.
He sighed and leaned back in his desk chair. Homework done. Room was spotless. The whole house was spotless. Laundry clean. He could go out but it's awfully late, and he has school in the morning. For a moment he considered sleeping but he knew that would get him nowhere. Who knew staying up past midnight every night to wait for a supernatural television channel would throw off your sleep schedule?
Just when he'd decided to try to find something to watch on TV, his phone started to ring.
Unknown Caller
He shrugged and let it continue ringing. If it's truly important they'll call back.
Hours passed while watching TV. Well, watching wasn't exactly correct. More like having it on in the background while zoning out for a while. He's found himself doing that a lot recently. Despite sitting in front of it for hours he can't actually recall a single thing that's been played. At least it's finally time to go to bed, he guesses.
Suddenly though, his phone began ringing on the living room coffee table.
Unknown Caller
He rolled his eyes. If they were going to call back, why wait so long? Deciding it can't be that important, he let it go to voicemail again. This time though, it began ringing again right after.
Finally this time he answered. "Hello?" He cringed at the sound of poorly hidden annoyance in his voice.
"Yu?" It felt like time came to a stand still. "Oh thank god you finally answered."
"R-Rise?" He nearly dropped his phone. "You got a new number..."
"I had to! You wouldn't pick up if it was from mine or grandma's." He should have known Rise would try this eventually. She's a smart girl, and she's twice as persistent. "I think I'm on the right street. Which house number is yours?"
"W-wait, you're here? Rise it's a school night, you-"
"You better tell me or all of your neighbors are gonna be really confused when Risette is at their doors."
"Alright!" He doesn't think this is a good idea, but he doesn't need his neighbors calling his parents asking why an idol is looking for their home. After letting out a sigh he gave her the number. "I'll unlock the door."
"Good! I'll be there soon."
After the call ended he made his way to the front door and unlocked it. His mind kept yelling at him that this was a mistake. What if his parents found out? They were already pissed enough when they learned they were together.
'No son of ours' will be with some empty headed idol floozy.'
'You'll marry a nice, proper girl once you finish college. If I'm not mistaken, the Kawada family has a girl around your age. Perhaps she'll make a good bride.'
'But I love her!'
'You're far too young to know what love is, Yu. Besides, all girls like her are the same anyway. They'll screw anything on two legs.'
'You haven't even met her yet, mother. If you would just-'
Mrs. Narukami raised her hand, signaling that her decision is final. 'That's enough on this subject. Your father and I know best. You will forget about this girl and anyone else in that backwater town. Do I make myself clear?'
'Mother, I-'
'I said, do I make myself clear?'
He looked to his father for support, but the man's face was the same any time his wife made up her mind on something. Complete unwavering obedience. 'Yes, mother.'
'Good. You have to understand that this is for your own good. Do you?' Despite knowing well and good it was only for their benefit, Yu nodded. 'Good. Now, as I was saying about Europe-'
That conversation happened a few days before his parents had left him alone again. They trusted him enough to be in the house alone, but not without a seemingly endless list of rules and regulations. He feared the consequences if any of them were broken. Their biggest rule had been that under no circumstances was any of his friends from Inaba to come to their house.
The front door opened and in front of him stood a girl wearing a newsboy cap, a big pair of black sunglasses, and a high-collared jacket. "Hello, Rise."
She took a step inside and he closed the door behind her. "Hello, Yu."
Yu ushered her into the living room and sat on the couch with her. She looked at him expectantly like she expected him to start the conversation. Wasn't she the one who invited herself here? "...You shouldn't be here."
"What? You aren't happy to see me?"
"Of course I am. It's just..."
"'Just' what?" Rise glared at him. "You really think I would just... not show up? After you've ignored me for months?! You blocked my number and everything!"
Yu didn't let her yelling get to him. He knew this was coming. "You should leave."
"No! Not until you tell me why you're being such a jerk. Not just me, either, but everyone? Even Nanako-chan? What the hell, Yu?"
"It's..." He shook his head. "Don't worry about it. It's not important."
"Not important?!" She jammed her finger into his chest. "You have some real explaining to do, you know!"
"Rise-"
"Stop trying to brush it off! This isn't like you!"
"I don't care about you anymore, got it?!" His stomach began churning right after he said it. "The same goes for everyone in that shitty little town. So get the hell out of here!"
Rise's determination wavered. "Y-you don't mean that."
"Of course I do! You really think I'd want to be with an idol?" 'Please don't hate me.' "A slut like you?!" 'Oh god I don't mean that.' "My parents were right about you."
"S-stop it." Tears began building in her eyes.
"Get the hell out of my house!" He stood up and pointed at the door. "Now!"
She stared up at him for a moment before the floodgates broke and she began sobbing. "W-why are you-" hiccup, "being s-so mean?" Yu bit his lip hard enough to draw blood. "Y-you said y-you l-loved me..."
He wiped his mouth on the sleeve of his shirt. "You really believed me?" 'Please, just go.' "You really are as air headed as everyone says, huh?"
"Y-you're lying. I know you are. W-why are you acting like this?"
"I-I'm not." 'Don't stop now.'
"Yes, you are. I see it in your eyes." She sniffled and wiped the tears from her eyes. "Senpai... Yu, you're hurting. Tell me what's wrong."
"The only thing that's wrong here is you, Rise. Get out of here, alright? I don't-"
"Stop acting like you don't care!" She jumped to her feet and grabbed his hands. "You've helped everyone so, so much. Please, just let me help you. Please..."
"I-" he subconsciously leaned closer to her. "I don't need-"
"Yes, you do. Just tell me what's going on."
"Rise, I... I can't." He let go of her hands and turned around. "It would be so much easier for everyone if you just leave now. I'm never coming back to Inaba, and we'll never be together, Rise. I'm sorry."
"It wouldn't be easier, and you know it! Why are you acting like it would be?!"
"Because, no matter what I do-" he swallowed, "no matter what I want, my parents don't care. It's about what they want. Not me."
"Dojima-san asked me to come. He said you'll listen to me. Everyone's been planning this for weeks, Senpai."
"Planning what?" He turned back to face her. "To come here? Act like everything will be alright? You don't know my parents, Rise. Apparently Uncle Dojima doesn't either. They don't change their minds."
"He knows that!" Rise tentatively grabbed one of his hands again. "That's why he wants you to come back and live with him and Nanako-chan again. He's already told your parents he's ready to fight them on this."
His heart skipped a beat. "W-what?"
"You can come back to Inaba. You can come home, Senpai!"
He wants to believe for a moment, he really does, but he takes a step back. "No. I can't."
"Why? You want to, right?"
"Of course I do. You have no idea how badly I want to, Rise."
"Then why can't you?"
Visions of countless nights without dinner ran in his head.
'This will teach you, Yu.' All he did was stay out just a few minutes past his curfew. It wasn't his fault the trains ran late.
'When will you learn?' His stomach grumbled but neither parent cared. 'Naughty children need to be punished.' For what he had no idea. All he had done was fall out of the top ten in his class. Maybe he could have studied harder?
"Because I... I can't tell them no."
"Senpai..." Her eyes watched his expression carefully. "They aren't very good to you, are they?"
"They're strict, but they still love me."
"But they're not even here, Yu. When was the last time they even called?"
"I-" As if spoken into existence, his phone began ringing. After checking the ID his face went pale at the sight of his mother's name. He held up a finger to Rise as he answered. "Hello, mother."
"That's what you have to say for yourself now? One of our neighbors called. Someone is there, aren't they? Is it one of your friends from Inaba? That idol?"
"Mother, I don't know-"
"Don't lie to me! And your uncle called. What's this about him wanting you to move to that town permanently?"
"Mother, I didn't know anything about-"
"I said don't lie to me! Get that whore out of our home. Call the police if you have to!"
He wanted to bite back, tell her Rise was one of the most incredible people he'd ever met, but he knew it was pointless. "...Yes, mo-" Suddenly, his phone was snatched from his hand. "Rise!"
"You listen here!" Yu tried to grab his phone, but Rise thought quickly and ran through the house until she found a bathroom. Once inside she locked the door so he couldn't get in. "You can say whatever you want about me, I've read way worse online, but I will not sit here and listen to you scream at him!"
"You must be that idol, yes? Risette, wasn't it?"
Yu banged on the bathroom door. "Rise! Don't!"
"Yep! That's me! One day it'll be Narukami Rise too, so maybe we should get off on the right foot."
"Like hell it will! My son will not end up with someone like you!"
"You don't even know me, Narukami-san. I'd like to change that."
"Well I wouldn't. Now, if you'd be so kind, give my son his phone and get out of my house!"
"Y'know, I bet I know more about your son than you do."
"Don't be ridiculous. I know everything there is to know about him."
"Oh yeah? What's his favorite kind of music?"
"Classical."
"Oops! Sorry. Is that actually his favorite or is that just what you made him listen to as a kid? It's bubblegum pop by the way. You should hear him do Spice Girls at karaoke. He's so good at it!" She began twirling her hair. "Next question. What's his favorite color?"
"Blue, obviously."
"Oh no! Wrong again! Did you just pick that because it's common? It's gray, by the way. Weird, right?"
"Enough with these childish games, brat."
"Ok ok, another one." She pressed closer to the door to make sure Yu could hear her clearly. "What does he wanna do with his life? What's his biggest dream?"
"He'll be a sales representative. Just like his parents."
"You don't sound sure about that. Is that what he wants, or is that what you want for him?"
"That doesn't matter."
"Yes, it does. And the answer is that he wants to become a therapist. He wants to help people deal with their problems in a healthy and manageable way, and you know what I think? I think he'd be really good at it. Don't you?"
"No, frankly, I don't, because his father and I have decided that-"
"It doesn't matter what you've decided. He's his own person, and you can't control him forever. Let's have some more questions, shall we?"
"I believe we've had enough-"
"What's his favorite season? How does he like his coffee? What does he do when he's bored? Who does he look up to more than anyone?"
"I don't-"
"Spring, because he likes it when all the flowers start coming back! Four sugars and milk, because he's a big baby who can't handle the bitterness! Folds origami cranes! His uncle Dojima, because unlike you he actually makes time for his kid now while maintaining his career! Don't you know anything about him?!"
"He's my son! I know everything that matters!"
"All of it matters!" Rise couldn't hold back the anger in her voice anymore. "Listen here, I don't know what crawled up your butt, but whatever it is you need to get over it. Your son is the most selfless, courageous, kind-hearted person I've ever met and you haven't even taken the time to get to know him. You know what? I feel sorry for you, because if I had a son like him I'd spend every day making sure he knows how much I love him. But no, you and your husband are too busy to remember he's his own person with his own feelings and not your little puppet you can control all the time."
"I don't think it's too late to make things right with him, lord knows he's a better person than me, because he still loves you. I hope you can find it in your cold, shrunken heart to change because you need to realize just how amazing he is. If you can't though? Stay the hell away from him, because I love him more than anything and I'll be dammed if I let you hurt him any more than you already have."
"You knew him for what? A year? How can you sit there and claim you know him better than I do?"
"Because I care, and you clearly don't. Goodbye, Narukami-san." Before Yu's mother could respond, Rise ended the call and shut off the phone. "Yu? Are you still out there?"
His voice came out weaker than she'd ever heard it. "Y-yeah..." After opening the door she was greeted by Yu looking completely awestruck.
"L-look," she handed him back his phone, "I'm sorry about that. I know that was probably stupid to piss her off like that, but I couldn't just let her talk to you like that and-"
"You really remember all that stuff about me?"
"W-what? Seriously? Of course I do. Why wouldn't I?"
"Why would you?"
"What do you mean?"
"I mean just," he shrugged, "none of it's important, right?"
"Of course it is!" Rise stepped closer and took his hands in hers. "All of it is, because it's you, and I love you."
"I... Wow."
"Yeah. Even after three months of being ignored, jerk."
"They... didn't want me to talk to anyone from Inaba. They said I needed to forget about everyone."
"And did ignoring everyone make it any easier?"
He smiled, but it didn't quite reach his eyes. "Of course it didn't. You have no idea how much I want to go back."
"Then come home with me, Yu. Dojima-san is serious. He'll fight them on this. He'll fight for you."
"I... don't want to put him through that."
"There that is again!" She grabbed his shirt collar. "You're acting like you aren't worth fighting for! You're acting like we shouldn't help you even though you helped all of us."
He stared down into her eyes for a moment before nodding. "Just... give me a few minutes, alright? I'll get my things together."
Rise stares back and a smile begins spreading on her face. "I'll be waiting."
Sitting on the train back to Inaba, Rise rests her head on her boyfriend's arm, only barely warding off sleep from taking her. "Thank you, Rise."
"Mmm, for what?" She looks up at him with tired eyes.
"For coming. For... not forgetting me."
"I could never forget you, Senpai..." A yawn broke through. "I'm gonna rest my eyes for a sec, ok?"
"Alright." After a few minutes Yu heard his girlfriend's light, nearly inaudible snores. He didn't know what happened next. Realistically his parents will barely put up a fight against Dojima, they can't let something distract from their work too long, but he can't be sure.
He wraps his arm around her shoulders and she leans closer into his side. After staring at her for a few minutes he realizes that no matter what happens in the coming days, he has her here now, and for now that will be enough.